Blog on! 10 high school teacher blogs you should be reading

Love blogging teachers? Meet some inspiring, articulate educators whose blogs ooze unique ideas about high school teaching. Bookmark these blogs for freely shared resources, curricula and teaching aids. These generous bloggers introduce technologies for online learning and collaboration, from Web 2.0 tools to QR codes. You can also find practical tips for handling the pressures that accompany this noble calling.

2¢ Worth: Imagine a video game where students design, build and run a school -- that's one insight from a "vagabond educator" with 35 years of experience. An edublogger since 2004, Warlick explains that he blogs to learn. This non-traditionalist explores barriers to modernizing education and envisions online school books that could be mobile, interactive and active. Warlick looks at how tech tools and online educational experiences can drive a lifestyle of learning.

American History Now: Potentially addictive, "The Maria Chronicles" by Jim Cullen follow the daily life of a fictional but very real teacher. The author teaches history in New York, reviews books at the History News Network and writes incisive cultural commentary. These thoughtful blog posts span the past and the present, for example, analyzing the life of Taylor Swift. One book review delves into the War of 1812, including the sacking of Washington D.C. and a peace treaty that influenced the fate of Florida and Texas.

Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Vicki Davis -- social networker, full-time teacher and school IT director -- writes about online learning and techniques for reaching today's students. With a background in business and high tech, she has created collaborative projects linking more than 3,200 students from 19 countries. One lesson explains how teachers can use Quick Response or QR codes to connect to students' mobile devices. Davis blogs about challenges at school and how students and teachers can learn from each other.

dy/dan: Dan Meyer gives away curriculum concepts for algebra, geometry and real-life math, full of conundrums like "Which is cheaper: a shower or a bath?" Building on his experience teaching high school math, Meyer digs into why students hate word problems. He suggests that digital media lets students work on concrete tasks, as in his Coffee Traveler and Popcorn Picker exercises. He probes the value of existing online learning tools like digital textbooks.

Fifty-Nine Minutes: Randon Ruggles, a high school English teacher and technology director in Minneapolis, studies instructional technology in grad school and teaches other educators. Oh, and he's a Google Apps for Education certified trainer, too. Read about tools for online education, ranging from conversations in the cloud to Google Scholar citations. This writer doesn't just talk about tech -- he demonstrates with videos, podcasts and screenshots.

Gently Hew Stone: This blog provokes thought immediately with the assertion, "The rebel of the 21st century will be old fashioned." In his eclectic journal, Jamie Huston dabbles in arts, education, humor, language and literature, living well, politics and society, and -- for Sundays -- religion. This teacher of high school and college English reviews a broad spectrum of books, from classics like John Milton (and John Carter) to new young adult fantasy books and Stephen King-influenced teen literature.

misscalcul8: This high school math teacher in Illinois also pursues a master's degree in educational leadership. She dives into assessment techniques and asks for input, for instance, on using end-of-course exams. She creates unit summary sheets in math portfolios to help students review what they have learned. One stealth lesson in math and geometry encourages students to create logos with only straight lines or circles, using measurements to shrink or enlarge the logos.

The Scholastic Scribe: According to "About Moi," Melissa B. began working in media and politics and now teaches high school journalism and English. She blogs about parenting and her world outside Room 215, illustrated with tons of photos. Posts include "Spring Breakdown" and how to procrastinate and enjoy gale force winds instead of grading papers. She also recounts her efforts to balance Norwegian Christmas cookie baking with yearbook proofs and an online poetry slam.

So You Want To Teach?: Joel remembers the frustrations of rookie teachers -- he began teaching band in 2002 but resigned during his second year. His edu-blog reflects his quest for educational excellence in 10 years of teaching. Joel shares teaching tricks and information freely, without copyright. Posts like "Questions That Will Save Your Career" convey real-world action plans and surprising secrets for staying sane, fighting burnout, managing the classroom and keeping students engaged.

A Teacher's View: Is college for all a failed dream? Mazenko, a high school English teacher in Colorado, asks some hard questions. Since 2008, Mazenko has written blogs on education, parenting, politics and modern American culture. His Mazenglish blog includes literature and language lessons that nudge students to think about what to do with their lives. Ideas for educational reforms include a proposal to let high school students graduate at 16 if they are entering associate degree programs and trade schools.

The blogosphere is home to dedicated high school teachers across the country expressing themselves digitally and comparing experiences. As you surf through these blogs, you may discover links to other innovators with creative concepts about education, culture and technology.